The US military's rejection of a request for Vang Pao to be buried at Arlinton National Cemetery cast a cloud over a traditional Hmong funeral in Fresno, California, after the Laos general's death here last month aged 81.

Thousands of ethnic Hmong paid their respects for a third day Sunday, lining up to view Vang Pao's body in a Fresno convention hall, in a marathon 24-hour-a-day funeral wake which continues until Wednesday.

"We were very disappointed.... We hope President Obama and the defense secretary will allow a burial waiver for General Vang Pao," said the organizers of the Hmong veteran's funeral here on behalf of his family and supporters.

Charlie Waters, a friend of Vang Pao, said Vietnam veteran Senator John McCain would see Vice President Joe Biden on Monday to press him over the issue. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting.

"We're not buying the idea that Arlington is becoming full. There's space for a hero," said Korean war veteran Waters, adding that he would offer to give his own place in Arlington to Vang Pao.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said the Laos general's supporters can seek an exception to allow Vang Pao to be buried there. "They do not happen that often," said the spokesman.

Vang Pao led the Central Intelligence Agency-backed force that assisted the United States in Vietnam, during its ill-fated war with communist forces in the north of southeast Asian nation.

He died of pneumonia on January 6 in Fresno, one of the major hubs of the 250,000-strong Hmong community living in the United States, some 30-40,000 of whom live in the west coast state of California.

His family and supporters had applied to the US military for a waiver to allow Vang Pao to be buried at Arlington, normally reserved for American veterans.

In a letter to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Lao Veterans of America said Vang Pao and his secret army "were in fact, de facto and de jure, US soldiers directly paid by the US government to help fight in the largest covert operation in US history."

On Friday, the Pentagon said the family's Arlington request "was thoroughly reviewed by a board comprised of senior military and civilian officials" but it "unanimously recommended denial of the request for exception to policy."

Former CIA agent Bill Lair slammed the US Army's decision, saying: "This lesson is about the disgraceful treatment of the great military leader, General Vang Pao."

One of Vang Pao's sons, 46-year-old Chai Vang, said he thought the Arlington decision could be reversed, adding: "As far as the family, we're really upset. He put his life and all of his efforts towards democracy in Laos."

Vang Pao, a fierce opponent of the communist government in Vientiane, was also a controversial figure.

In 2007, he was arrested in California on charges of plotting to overthrow a foreign government after an undercover agent tried to sell him weapons at a Thai restaurant.

Prosecutors dropped their charges in 2009. A judge later ended the case for the remaining 11 Hmong Americans accused in the case amid persistent questions over the government's evidence.

Former CIA agent Lair said the US government "tried to embarrass and dishonor General Vang Pao when he and 11 others were arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow the communist government of Laos.

"These actions caused tremendous insult and disgrace to this great leader, his men and the Hmong people in America," he added.

Wangyee Vang, president of the Lao Veterans of America Institute, said he hoped the Arlington decision could be overturned.

"We feel very disappointed... we think General Pao deserves to be there because he fought, and saved the American soldiers' lives, thousand and thousands of them," he told AFP.

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